Left never supported Maoists: Yechury

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury today took exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's remarks linking the party to the Naxal issue, saying his party had never supported the rebels.

indiaUpdated: Sep 05, 2010 15:46 IST

PTI

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury on Sunday took exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's remarks linking the party to the Naxal issue, saying his party had never supported the rebels.

"In all the CPI(M) ruled states in the country the Maoists were banned and it is strange that an experienced politician like Karunanidhi is making such an incorrect statement", Yechury said addressing a public meeting here last night.

"Somebody might have misled Karunanidhi by giving factually incorrect informations", he said, adding, "CPI(M) had no affinity toward the Maoists who pursued a path of violence".

Taking a swipe at Left parties, Karunanidhi had on Friday said they had questioned the Centre when it clamped a ban on Maoists.

Tracing the origin of Maoist movement to Naxalism in West Bengal, he had said Naxalites emerged as an offshoot of CPI-M on the ground that a revolution could not be brought about through ballots.

"Maoists in the country never believed in the system of Parliamentary democracy, but Left strongly believes in it", Yechury said.

He said hundreds of Left party workers were killed during the past several years in West Bengal, which was engaged in isolating the Maoists and restoring civil administration in the areas controlled by them.

He alleged the Centre was not taking any serious step to control price hike and appealed the public to join the September seven all India strike against price rise.